CHILD DEATHS: Each year the Statewide Child Abuse Death Review Committee examines the causes of child deaths in Florida.

The committee recently completed its review of 2011 and detailed its findings in the annual report. Among other things, the report found there were 126 child deaths linked to abuse or neglect in Florida in 2011. Of these, almost half — 62 deaths — were caused by drowning or unsafe sleeping practices with infants.

These causes — both preventable — are instructive. Parents or guardians must teach children to swim and take precautions with children around water. Parents or guardians also must learn proper sleeping arrangements to safeguard newborns.